Torso protector device for martial arts

ABSTRACT

A torso protector device for martial arts is disclosed. The device comprises a cylindrical torso protection body to protect a wearer&#39;s torso; a shoulder cover coupled to the cylindrical torso protection body at front and rear portions thereof, wherein the shoulder cover has a neck opening defined in a top thereof, wherein left and right arm passing openings are defined in the shoulder cover in the left and right sides thereof respectively; a wire coupled to the cylindrical torso protection body and the shoulder cover; a wire adjuster module coupled to the wire; and a screener to screen the wire, wherein an adjustment dial is operatively coupled to the wire adjuster module, wherein the rotation of the adjustment dial results in length increase or decrease of the wire.

BACKGROUND Field of the Present Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a torso protector device for martialarts, and, more particularly, to a torso protector device for martialarts, which is worn on a user on her/his own.

Discussion of Related Art

As well known, various kinds of attacks such as kicking, fists, andhand-snatching are performed when fighting martial arts such astaekwondo. If such an attack is hit directly by the body, it can lead toinjuries. Thus, the body protector is necessary.

A torso protector device for martial arts includes a torso cover toprotect a wearer's torso; left and right upper straps to connect leftand right top portions of the torso cover to left and right middleportions of the torso cover or right and left middle portions of thetorso cover respectively; and a lower strap to connect left and rightlower portions of the torso cover to each other.

Meanwhile, in the process of wearing the torso protector, the torsocover is put on the upper body of the user in a state where the strapattached to the torso cover is loosened, and, then, the other assistantadjusts the length of the strap to enable the torso cover to tightly fitwith the body.

As described above, in the conventional method of wearing the bodyprotector, it is difficult for the user to adjust the strap to fithis/her body by himself. The strap may be loosened not only before thegame but also during the game. In addition, there is a problem in thatit is a very difficult task for the other person to match the wearer'sown feeling in the process of adjusting the strap.

A prior at is as follows: Patent document 1 KR20-0475340 B; patentdocument 2 KR10-0660405 B.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify all key featuresor essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intendedto be used alone as an aid in determining the scope of the claimedsubject matter.

The present disclosure is to provide a torso protector device formartial arts wherein a wearer may adjust a length of a fixing strap onher/his own to match the wearer's own feeling.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a torsoprotector device for martial arts, the device comprising: a torso coverto protect a wearer's torso; left and right upper straps to connect leftand right top portions of the torso cover to left and right middleportions of the torso cover or right and left middle portions of thetorso cover respectively; a lower strap to connect left and right lowerportions of the torso cover to each other; left and right upper wires toconnect the left and right top portions of the torso cover to the leftand right upper straps respectively; left and right lower wires toconnect the left and right lower portions of the torso cover to thelower strap; left and right upper wire adjuster modules disposed at theleft and right upper wires respectively; and left and right lower wireadjuster modules disposed at the left and right lower wiresrespectively, wherein an adjustment dial is operatively coupled to eachof the wire adjuster modules, wherein the rotation of the adjustmentdial results in length increase or decrease of each of the wires.

In one implementation, each of the left and right upper and lower wireadjuster modules: includes a wire winding housing in which each wire iswound; the adjustment dial rotatably coupled to the wire windinghousing; and wire passing-through holes defined in the wire windinghousing to allow passing of the wire therethrough.

In one implementation, the wire winding housing has a winding rollreceived therein to wind the wire around roll.

In one implementation, the adjustment dial is operatively coupled to thewinding roll such that the rotation of the adjustment dial enable ordisable the rotation of the winding roll depending on engagement ordisengagement therebetween.

In one implementation, when the adjustment dial is tightly engaged tothe winding roll, the adjustment dial is configured to rotate not in areverse direction but in a forward direction, wherein when theadjustment dial is disengaged from the winding roll, the adjustment dialis configured to rotate in a reverse direction or in a forwarddirection.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a torsoprotector device for martial arts, the device comprising: a cylindricaltorso protection body to protect a wearer's torso; a shoulder covercoupled to the cylindrical torso protection body at front and rearportions thereof, wherein the shoulder cover has a neck opening definedin a top thereof, wherein left and right arm passing openings aredefined in the shoulder cover in the left and right sides thereofrespectively; a wire coupled to the cylindrical torso protection bodyand the shoulder cover; a wire adjuster module coupled to the wire; anda screener to screen the wire, wherein an adjustment dial is operativelycoupled to the wire adjuster module, wherein the rotation of theadjustment dial results in length increase or decrease of the wire.

In one implementation, connection rings are arranged in left and rightcolumns on the cylindrical torso protection body on the front facethereof, wherein the wire passes through the connection rings betweenthe left and right columns in a zigzag form.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a trainingset for martial arts, the system comprising: a kick target device; andthe torso protector device defined above, wherein the kick target deviceincludes a main body, and hit detectors disposed on the main body,wherein the hit detectors is configured to sense a hit by a trainee,wherein the kick target device includes a display unit connected to thehit detectors for displaying the hit counts by the trainee, wherein themain body includes a base portion on a ground and a target structureextending vertically upwards from the base portion, wherein the displayunit is disposed on the base portion, wherein the hit detectors aredisposed on the target structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthis specification and in which like numerals depict like elements,illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with thedescription, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a torso protector device for martialarts in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an operation of a wire adjuster module of a torsoprotector device for martial arts in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a torso protector device for martialarts in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a kick target device and a user wearingthe torso protector device for martial arts in accordance with oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements in the figures arenot necessarily drawn to scale. The same reference numbers in differentfigures denote the same or similar elements, and as such perform similarfunctionality. Also, descriptions and details of well-known steps andelements are omitted for simplicity of the description. Furthermore, inthe following detailed description of the present disclosure, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be understoodthat the present disclosure may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components,and circuits have not been described in detail so as not tounnecessarily obscure aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

Examples of various embodiments are illustrated and described furtherbelow. It will be understood that the description herein is not intendedto limit the claims to the specific embodiments described. On thecontrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, andequivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”,“third”, and so on may be used herein to describe various elements,components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components,regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms.These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region,layer or section from another element, component, region, layer orsection. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or sectiondescribed below could be termed a second element, component, region,layer or section, without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “connected to”, or “coupled to” another element or layer, it canbe directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer,or one or more intervening elements or layers may be present. Inaddition, it will also be understood that when an element or layer isreferred to as being “between” two elements or layers, it can be theonly element or layer between the two elements or layers, or one or moreintervening elements or layers may also be present.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “under,”“above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofexplanation to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement s or feature s as illustrated in the figures. It will beunderstood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompassdifferent orientations of the device in use or in operation, in additionto the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the devicein the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or“beneath” or “under” other elements or features would then be oriented“above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example terms “below”and “under” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. Thedevice may be otherwise oriented for example, rotated 90 degrees or atother orientations, and the spatially relative descriptors used hereinshould be interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the presentdisclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a” and “an” are intendedto include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, and “including” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers,operations, elements, components, and/or portions thereof. As usedherein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one ormore of the associated listed items. Expression such as “at least oneof” when preceding a list of elements may modify the entire list ofelements and may not modify the individual elements of the list.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientificterms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one ofordinary skill in the art to which this inventive concept belongs. Itwill be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonlyused dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. Thepresent disclosure may be practiced without some or all of thesespecific details. In other instances, well-known process structuresand/or processes have not been described in detail in order not tounnecessarily obscure the present disclosure. Further, the use of “may”when describing embodiments of the present disclosure refers to “one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.”

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a torso protector device for martialarts in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2illustrates an operation of a wire adjuster module of a torso protectordevice for martial arts in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a torso protector device formartial arts in accordance with another embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a kick target device and auser wearing the torso protector device for martial arts in accordancewith one embodiment of the present disclosure.

The torso protector device 200 for martial arts in accordance with oneembodiment of the present disclosure may include a torso cover 210 toprotect a wearer's torso; left and right upper straps 220 to connectleft and right top portions of the torso cover 210 to left and rightmiddle portions of the torso cover 210 or right and left middle portionsof the torso cover 210 respectively; a lower strap 230 to connect leftand right lower portions of the torso cover 210 to each other; left andright upper wires 240 to connect the left and right top portions of thetorso cover 210 to the left and right upper straps 220 respectively;left and right lower wires 240 to connect the left and right lowerportions of the torso cover 210 to the lower strap 230; left and rightupper wire adjuster modules 250 disposed at the left and right upperwires 240 respectively; left and right lower wire adjuster modules 250disposed at the left and right lower wires 240 respectively; and atleast one hit detector 260 disposed on the torso cover 210.

The torso cover 210 may extend downward to protect the scrotum.

The left and right upper straps 220 may cross with each other. The leftand right upper straps 220 may extend around the shoulder of the wearerto secure the torso cover 210 to the body of the wearer. Each of theleft and right upper straps 220 may be embodied as a stack of clotheswhich are coupled to each other via a sewing. Each of the left and rightupper straps 220 may have a larger area in a middle portion thereof thanin both ends thereof since the middle portion contacts the shoulder.This may spread the weight of the torso cover 210 uniformly.

The lower strap 230 may be embodied as a stack of clothes which arecoupled to each other via a sewing. Each of the left and right upperstraps 220 may have a larger area in both ends thereof than in a middlepotion thereof since the both ends contacts the left and right sides ofa waist portion of the user. This may improve wearing feel for thewearer.

The left and right upper wires 240 may connect the left and right topportions of the torso cover 210 to the left and right upper straps 220respectively. The left and right lower wires 240 may connect the leftand right lower portions of the torso cover 210 to the lower strap 230.In one embodiment, the left and right upper wires 240 may be connectedto the left and right top portions of the torso cover 210 via left andright upper rings 210 respectively. The left and right lower wires 240may be connected to the left and right lower portions of the torso cover210 via left and right lower rings 210 respectively.

The left and right upper wire adjuster modules 250 may be disposed atthe left and right upper wires 240 respectively to allow lengthadjustment of the left and right upper wires 240. The left and rightlower wire adjuster modules 250 may be disposed at the left and rightlower wires 240 respectively to allow length adjustment of the left andright lower wires 240.

Each of the left and right upper and lower wire adjuster modules 250 mayinclude a wire winding housing 251 in which each wire 240 is wound, anadjustment dial 253 rotatably coupled to the wire winding housing 251,and wire passing-through holes 255 defined in the wire winding housing251 to allow passing of the wire 240 therethrough.

The wire winding housing 251 may have a winding roll (not shown)received therein to wind the wire 240 around the same. The winding rollmay be operatively coupled to the adjustment dial 253. The adjustmentdial 253 may be operatively coupled to the winding roll such that therotation of the adjustment dial 253 may affect or not the rotation ofthe winding roll depending on engagement or disengagement therebetween.In one embodiment, the user presses the adjustment dial 253 and thustightly engages the adjustment dial 253 to the winding roll, and, then,rotates the adjustment dial 253 to rotate the winding roll to adjust thelength of the wire. In this connection, the adjustment dial 253 mayrotate continuously or step by step. The adjustment dial 253 may beconfigured to rotate not in the reverse direction but in the forwarddirection to suppress the free rotation of the winding roll. The forwardrotation of the winding roll may lead to a reduction of the wire length.

When the user takes off the torso protector device 200, the user maypull the adjustment dial 253 to disengage the adjustment dial 253 fromthe winding roll. When the adjustment dial 253 is disengaged from thewinding roll, the free rotation of the winding roll may be available. Inother words, the winding roll may rotate in the reverse direction toincrease the length of the wire 240. Thus, the user may take off thetorso protector device 200.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a torso protector device for martialarts in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The torso protector device 300 for martial arts in accordance with oneembodiment of the present disclosure may include a cylindrical torsoprotection body 310 to protect a wearer's torso; a shoulder cover 320coupled to the cylindrical torso protection body 310 at front and rearportions thereof, wherein the shoulder cover 320 has a neck openingdefined in a top thereof, wherein left and right arm passing openingsare defined in the shoulder cover 320 in the left and right sidesthereof respectively; a waist pad 330 to cover the waist portion of thecylindrical torso protection body 310; a wire 340 coupled to thecylindrical torso protection body 310 and the shoulder cover 320; a wireadjuster module 350 coupled to the wire 340, a hit detector (not shown),and a screener 370 to screen the wire 340.

The shoulder cover 320 may be coupled to a top of the cylindrical torsoprotection body 310 at front and rear potions thereof. The cylindricaltorso protection body 310 may be monolithic with the shoulder cover 320.The shoulder cover 320 has a neck opening defined in a top thereof. Theleft and right arm passing openings are defined in the shoulder cover320 in the left and right sides thereof respectively

The waist pad 330 may cover the waist portion of the cylindrical torsoprotection body 310. Alternatively, it may dispense with the waist pad330. In one embodiment, the cylindrical torso protection body 310 may bemonolithic with the waist pad 330.

As shown in FIG. 3, the adjuster module 350 may be disposed on theshoulder cover 320 on a front face thereof.

The connection rings 312 may be arranged in left and right columns onthe cylindrical torso protection body 310 on the front face thereof. Inone embodiment, the connection rings 312 may be arranged in a staggeredmanner between the left and right columns. The connection rings 312 maybe spaced from each other. The wire 340 may pass through the connectionrings between the left and right columns in a zigzag form. The wire 340may extend to the wire adjuster module 350. The wire 340 may be wound bythe wire adjuster module 350.

Alternatively, the wire 340 may be embedded in the cylindrical torsoprotection body 310 and may be visually invisible. The wire 340 mayextend seamlessly through the cylindrical torso protection body 310 andthe waist pad 330 and/or the shoulder cover 320.

The wire adjuster module 350 may include a wire winding housing 351 inwhich the wire 340 is wound, an adjustment dial 353 rotatably coupled tothe wire winding housing 351, and wire passing-through holes 355 definedin the wire winding housing 351 to allow passing of the wire 340therethrough. The both ends of the wire 340 may be fixed to both sidesof the winding roll (not shown). The wire winding housing 351 may have awinding roll (not shown) received therein to wind the wire 340 aroundthe same. The winding roll may be operatively coupled to the adjustmentdial 353. The adjustment dial 353 may be operatively coupled to thewinding roll such that the rotation of the adjustment dial 353 mayaffect or not the rotation of the winding roll depending on engagementor disengagement therebetween. In one embodiment, the user presses theadjustment dial 353 and thus tightly engages the adjustment dial 353 tothe winding roll, and, then, rotates the adjustment dial 353 to rotatethe winding roll to adjust the length of the wire. In this connection,the adjustment dial 353 may rotate continuously or step by step. Theadjustment dial 353 may be configured to rotate not in the reversedirection but in the forward direction to suppress the free rotation ofthe winding roll. The forward rotation of the winding roll may lead to areduction of the wire length.

When the user takes off the torso protector device 300, the user maypull the adjustment dial 353 to disengage the adjustment dial 353 fromthe winding roll. When the adjustment dial 353 is disengaged from thewinding roll, the free rotation of the winding roll may be available. Inother words, the winding roll may rotate in the reverse direction toincrease the length of the wire 340. Thus, the user may take off thetorso protector device 300.

The position of the wire adjuster module 350 may not be limited to thefront face of the shoulder cover 320. For example, the wire adjustermodule 350 may be disposed on the body 310 on the front face thereof, ormay be disposed on the waist pad 320. A number of the wire adjustermodule 35 may be singular or plural. For example, two wire adjustermodules 350 may be disposed on the body 310 on the front face thereof.

The screener 370 may have a hole 374 defined therein. The screener 370may be length-stretchable. The screener 370 may have first attachingmeans 372 to be attached to second attachment means 322 on the shouldercover 320. This screener 370 may be attached to or detached from theshoulder cover 320. The screener 370 may receive, at the hole 374thereof, the wire adjuster module 350 when being attached to theshoulder cover 320. In this way, the screener 370 may screen entirelythe wire 340. Alternatively, the screener 370 may be integrated with thetorso protector device 300 for martial arts 300.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a kick target device 100 and a userwearing the torso protector device 200 for martial arts in accordancewith one embodiment of the present disclosure. That is, FIG. 4 show atraining system for martial arts.

The training system for martial arts may include the kick target device100 and torso protector device 200 or 300.

The kick target device 100 may include a main body 110, and hitdetectors 120 disposed on the main body 110. The hit detectors 120 maybe configured to sense the hit by the trainee. The kick target device100 may include a display unit 160 connected to the hit detectors 120for displaying the hit counts by the trainee. The main body 110 mayinclude a base portion 112 on a ground and a target structure 114extending vertically upwards from the base portion 112. The display unit160 may be disposed on the base portion 112. The display unit 160 may beplural 161 and 163.

The hit detector 260 on the torso protector device 200 may be associatedwith the hit detectors 120 such that the distance between the user andthe target structure 114 may be determined.

As for the training system for martial arts, the user may put on or takeoff the torso protector device 200 on his/her own, and the kick targetdevice 200 may allow the user to check hit force and accuracy of her/hiskick on his/her own.

The above description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but ismade merely for the purpose of describing the general principles ofexemplary embodiments, and many additional embodiments of thisdisclosure are possible. It is understood that no limitation of thescope of the disclosure is thereby intended. The scope of the disclosureshould be determined with reference to the Claims. Reference throughoutthis specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similarlanguage means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristicthat is described in connection with the embodiment is included in atleast one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, appearances of thephrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar languagethroughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer tothe same embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A torso protector device for martial arts, thedevice comprising: a torso cover to protect a wearer's torso; left andright upper straps to connect left and right top portions of the torsocover to left and right middle portions of the torso cover or right andleft middle portions of the torso cover respectively; a lower strap toconnect left and right lower portions of the torso cover to each other;left and right upper wires to connect the left and right top portions ofthe torso cover to the left and right upper straps respectively; leftand right lower wires to connect the left and right lower portions ofthe torso cover to the lower strap; left and right upper wire adjustermodules disposed at the left and right upper wires respectively; andleft and right lower wire adjuster modules disposed at the left andright lower wires respectively, wherein an adjustment dial isoperatively coupled to each of the wire adjuster modules, wherein therotation of the adjustment dial results in length increase or decreaseof each of the wires.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the leftand right upper and lower wire adjuster modules: includes a wire windinghousing in which each wire is wound; the adjustment dial rotatablycoupled to the wire winding housing; and wire passing-through holesdefined in the wire winding housing to allow passing of the wiretherethrough.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the wire winding housinghas a winding roll received therein to wind the wire around roll.
 4. Thedevice of claim 3, wherein the adjustment dial is operatively coupled tothe winding roll such that the rotation of the adjustment dial enable ordisable the rotation of the winding roll depending on engagement ordisengagement therebetween.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein when theadjustment dial is tightly engaged to the winding roll, the adjustmentdial is configured to rotate not in a reverse direction but in a forwarddirection, wherein when the adjustment dial is disengaged from thewinding roll, the adjustment dial is configured to rotate in a reversedirection or in a forward direction.
 6. A torso protector device formartial arts, the device comprising: a cylindrical torso protection bodyto protect a wearer's torso; a shoulder cover coupled to the cylindricaltorso protection body at front and rear portions thereof, wherein theshoulder cover has a neck opening defined in a top thereof, wherein leftand right arm passing openings are defined in the shoulder cover in theleft and right sides thereof respectively; a wire coupled to thecylindrical torso protection body and the shoulder cover; a wireadjuster module coupled to the wire; and a screener to screen the wire,wherein an adjustment dial is operatively coupled to the wire adjustermodule, wherein the rotation of the adjustment dial results in lengthincrease or decrease of the wire.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein thewire adjuster module: includes a wire winding housing in which each wireis wound; the adjustment dial rotatably coupled to the wire windinghousing; and wire passing-through holes defined in the wire windinghousing to allow passing of the wire therethrough.
 8. The device ofclaim 6, wherein connection rings are arranged in left and right columnson the cylindrical torso protection body on the front face thereof,wherein the wire passes through the connection rings between the leftand right columns in a zigzag form.
 9. A training set for martial arts,the system comprising: a kick target device; and the torso protectordevice according to claim 1, wherein the kick target device includes amain body, and hit detectors disposed on the main body, wherein the hitdetectors is configured to sense a hit by a trainee, wherein the kicktarget device includes a display unit connected to the hit detectors fordisplaying the hit counts by the trainee, wherein the main body includesa base portion on a ground and a target structure extending verticallyupwards from the base portion, wherein the display unit is disposed onthe base portion, wherein the hit detectors are disposed on the targetstructure.